Customer Reviews

Blue Blazes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I used "Blue Blazes" as my test CD when I was shopping for a boom box, and every time I played it, the sales person nearby would go, "Wow! Who is THAT?" "Hey, it's Ranch Romance," I would reply, and they'd say, "Gosh, never heard of them." The band is now gone as the western wind, but "Blue Blazes" plays on as one of the most delicious, infectious, hot, funky, soulful, and swingin' "real country music" albums I've ever heard. Their sound combines flavors of Swing, Tex Mex, Cajun, Women's music, and Rock. Unlike many other Western Swing groups (e.g. Bob Wills, Asleep at the Wheel), which sometimes sound a bit hokey, overly sweet, or slick, Ranch Romance dances with spurs on their boots, and the sparks fly.

It was very sad that Ranch Romance broke up after only recording three albums. This, their second album, is their most perfect, with every song being compositionally strong and a wonderful musical world unto itself.

The title track, "Blue Blazes", is one of the hottest Western Swing tunes anyone has recorded. Other swing tunes on the album include "Heartaches, "What's Wrong with You", "Cuttin' A Rug", and "Trouble". Blues tunes include "Indeed I Do", and "Lost Heart". "Buckaroo" has a Bo Didley beat, while "Arizona Moon" is a romantic heartache waltz, "Racin' Burnin' Bridges" is a hard driving polka, and "Babydoll" is a two-step.

The album closes with a song I understood was about K.D. Laing's life on the road. It takes the listener on to the stage with her before her thousands of fans, and then back into the loneliness of her empty motel room after the show, and evokes the longing for home and family in a stunningly beautiful performance.

This album has witty songs that are great company on road trips or whenever you just want the freedom to sing along at the top of your lungs. You can crank the music and really get into their great lyrics, voices, and tunes. For some former school teachers, these women really know how to play! They deserve wider recognition than they've had ... here's hoping they don't give up and end up on cafeteria watch again!

This is one of my favorite CD's - it gets into my CD player often. Jo's exceptional voice, the top-notch arrangements and great ensemble playing make this an unbeatable package that's hard to classify . ..It's sort-of Western-Americana with a strong Jo Stafford/Rosemary Clooney big-band/jazz/swing style vocal pattern. Each track is worth continued listening. Standouts include: 'Do You Want to Know About Columbia' <a bonus track>, 'Arizona Moon' and 'Baby Doll'. The whole CD has a distinct and clear voice. cheers, pwb

From what I've heard this is very, very good. This was a gift to my husband & he is happy with it.

After years of being satisfied with my (now out of print) copy of Western Dream, I now have a complete set of this underappreciated band of yodelers. Don't get me wrong, I hate country music with a passion rarely seen, but these fine folk are a different kettle of, pardon the expression, fish. Get 'em while you can (and if you ever run across a copy of Western Dream, snatch it up!).